Angled chisel point brad and method therefor

ABSTRACT

An obliquely collated strip of brads useable in an angled magazine of a fastener driving tool, each brad having a head on one end and a point on an opposite end, the point of each brad of the collated strip of brads having a tip defined by converging first, second and third facets so as to form an edge at an acute angle relative to an axis of the brad, the edge of each brad forming a substantially continuous edge of the collated strip of brads, the head of each brad of the collated strip of brads arranged step-wise relative to the head of an adjacent brad, the step-wise arrangement of heads forming a stepped edge substantially parallel to the substantially continuous edge of the collated strip of brads, the head of each brad of the collated strip of brads being disposed at an angle relative to the axis of the brad, the angle of the head sloping oppositely relative to the angle of the substantially continuous edge of the collated strip of brads.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present patent application is related to co-pending U.S. applicationSer. No. 08/883,087 filed on Jun. 26, 1997, entitled "Pneumatic TrimNailer" commonly assigned herewith and incorporated by reference herein.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to brads useable in a fastenerdriving tool, and methods therefor for producing the same, and moreparticularly to obliquely collated strips of brads useable in fastenerdriving tools having an aftwardly swept magazine, and combinationsthereof.

2. Background of the Invention

The parallel arrangement of brads in a collated strip for use infastener driving tools is generally known. The collated strip of bradsis usually made coherent by means of a suitable adhesive material, suchas, for example, nitrocellulose, and is disposed in a magazine of thefastener driving tool wherein individual brads are sequentially fed intoa channel of a nose-piece thereof. A driver blade is accelerated axiallythrough the channel behind the brad and into engagement therewith so asto separate the brad from the collated strip and discharge the brad froman aperture of the nose-piece into a target material or workpiece,usually grained wood or particle board. Many powered finishing nail, orbrad, driving tools have the magazine oriented at a right angle relativeto the channel in the nose-piece. Other fastener driving toolsadvantageously aftwardly sweep the magazine from the nose-piece at anangle relative to the channel therein so as to improve clearance aboutthe nose-piece and to facilitate handling and operation of the fastenerdriving tool, particularly while performing nailing operations in closedspaces, such as along corners of intersecting walls and ceilings. Afastener driving tool having a swept magazine configuration foraccommodating a collated strip of brads is disclosed in co-pending U.S.Application No. ₋₋₋₋₋₋ filed on ₋₋₋₋₋₋, entitled "Pneumatic Trim Nailer"which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.

To accommodate fastener driving tools having an aftwardly sweptmagazine, the collated strip of brads must be arranged obliquely so thata leading edge of the collated strip of brads has substantially the sameangular relationship, usually within two degrees more or less, to thelongitudinal axis of the brad as the channel of the fastener drivingtool nose-piece has to the magazine. U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,733 entitled"Method of Manufacturing Cohered Fasteners" issued on 12 May 1987 toMasago, for example, discloses a machine for offsetting a plurality ofpreformed fasteners adhered together with a plasticized adhesive coatingso as to form a strip of obliquely cohered fasteners before the adhesivecoating hardens. The result is a collated strip of brads arrangedobliquely and having a first stepped edge formed by the plurality ofbrad points and a second stepped edge formed by the plurality of bradheads. The point of each brad has a straight edge symmetrically formedby converging surfaces extending from opposite sides of the brad,wherein the edge is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bradand is parallel to an upper surface of the head. The process of U.S.Pat. No. 4,664,733 however requires complex machinery and additionalprocessing steps that increase production costs.

Other known methods of forming obliquely collated strips of brads foruse in fastener driving tools having an aftwardly swept magazine includeforming points on a parallel arrangement of wire members with a steppedcutting die oriented at an appropriate angle relative to thelongitudinal axes of the wire members. According to these alternativemethods, heads of the brads are formed on an opposite end portion of thewires with a stepped heading die, wherein the end portions of the wiremembers on which the heads are formed are cut with the same steppedcutting die used to form the points. In the known prior art, the pointof each brad is formed either having a straight edge defined byconverging surfaces extending from opposite sides of the brad as in U.S.Pat. No. 4,664,733, or the point of each brad is formed having a flatsurface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the brad. In bothconfigurations, however, the resulting obliquely collated strip of bradshas a stepped edge formed by the plurality of brad points and anotherstepped edge formed by the plurality of brad heads, wherein eachindividual brad is configured substantially the same as those discussedabove in connection with U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,733. Although thesealternative methods of forming obliquely collated strips of brads hasadvantages over the method of U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,733, including reducedmanufacturing costs, they are nevertheless subject to some drawbacks.More particularly, the stepped cutting dies are expensive to fabricate.Additionally, variation in the diameter of the wire members causesmisalignment of the stepped cutting and stepped heading dies relative toends of the wire members during the cutting and heading operations.Misalignment of the stepped cutting die results in over-cutting of somewire members and incomplete cutting of others, which causes excessivewear on the cutting die and may prevent proper separation of the formedobliquely collated strip of brads from the wire members during themanufacture thereof. Misalignment of the stepped heading die results inthe formation of incomplete and distorted heads on the cut wire members,and causes excessive wear on the stepped heading die.

In addition to the problems discussed above, the inventor of the presentinvention recognizes that improperly formed brads are susceptible tojamming in the channel of the nose-piece, and moreover are a suspectedcause of poor penetration performance, possibly resulting from slippageof the driver blade off the head during fastening operations and frompoorly formed points. Notably, in the past, it was generally believedthat fastener points must be formed symmetrically in order to ensureadequate and accurate penetration into the workpiece, and thatasymmetrically formed fastener points had an increased tendency to bedeflected from the surface of the workpiece, a phenomenon referred to asskating. Asymmetrically formed points were also believed to be moresusceptible to influence by wood grain, sometimes piercing through aside of the workpiece, which is an adverse effect known as shining.

The present invention is drawn to advancements in the art of bradsformable into an obliquely collated strips of brads, combinationsthereof, and methods of making the same, which overcome problems in theprior art.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a novel angledchisel point brad useable in a fastener driving tool, the brad having ahead at one end and a point at an opposite end, the point having a tipdefined by converging first, second and third facets, one or both of thefirst and second facets converging from corresponding first and secondsides of the shank so as to form an edge at an acute angle relative tothe longitudinal axis of the shank, the third facet formed by a thirdside of the shank, and in another configuration the tip is formed by, asa surface at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of theshank, by two opposite sides and an end of the shank.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel brad useable ina fastener driving tool, the brad having a head at one end and a pointat an opposite end, the head of the brad having a top surface which isdisposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the brad,whereby the angled head has a tendency to prevent a driver blade of thefastener driving tool from slipping off the head while driving the bradinto a workpiece.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel angled chiselpoint brad useable in a fastener driving tool, the brad having a head atone end and a point at an opposite end, the point having a tip definedby converging first, second and third facets, one or both of the firstand second facets converging from corresponding substantially oppositefirst and second sides of the shank so as to form an edge at an acuteangle relative to a the longitudinal axis of the shank, the third facetformed by a third side of the shank, the head of the brad having a topsurface which is disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axisof the brad, and the angle of the head sloping oppositely relative tothe angle of the edge, whereby the novel angled chisel point brad hasrelatively improved penetration performance resulting from the angledchisel point and provides better contact between a driver blade of thefastener driving tool and the angled head.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel obliquelycollated strip of brads useable in an angled magazine of a fastenerdriving tool, each brad having a head on one end and a point on anopposite end, the point of each brad of the collated strip of bradshaving a tip defined by converging first, second and third facets so asto form an edge at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis ofthe brad, wherein the edge of each brad of the collated strip of bradsforms a substantially continuous edge of the collated strip of brads.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel obliquelycollated strip of brads useable in an angled magazine of a fastenerdriving tool, each brad having a head on one end and a point on anopposite end, the point of each brad of the collated strip of bradshaving a tip defined by converging first, second and third facets so asto form an edge at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis ofthe brad, the edge of each brad of the collated strip of brads forming asubstantially continuous edge of the collated strip of brads, the headof each brad of the collated strip of brads arranged step-wise relativeto the head of an adjacent brad, the step-wise arrangement of headsforming a stepped edge substantially parallel to the substantiallycontinuous edge, and according to an alternative embodiment of theinvention, the head of each brad of the collated strip of brads isdisposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the brad, theangle of each head sloping oppositely relative to the angle of thesubstantially continuous edge of the collated strip of brads.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a novel methodof making an obliquely collated strip of brads useable in a magazine ofa fastener driving tool by forming a first substantially continuous edgeon a plurality of collectively arranged wire members disposed at anacute angle relative to the respective longitudinal axes of theplurality of wire members, forming a head on each of the plurality ofwire members, forming a second substantially continuous edge on theplurality of wire members at an angle relative to the respectivelongitudinal axes of the plurality of wire members, the secondsubstantially continuous edge forming a point with a tip on each of theplurality of wire members, whereby the second substantially continuousedge is substantially parallel to the first substantially continuousedge.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a novel method ofmaking an obliquely collated strip of brads that includes forming thehead of each of the plurality of wire members step-wise relative to thehead of an adjacent wire member, whereby the step-wise arrangement ofheads on each of the plurality of collectively arranged wire membersforms a stepped edge of the plurality of collectively arranged wiremembers which is substantially parallel to the second substantiallycontinuous edge of the plurality of collectively arranged wire members.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a novel method ofmaking an obliquely collated strip of brads that includes forming thehead of each of the plurality of wire members at an angle relative tothe longitudinal axis of the wire member, the angle of each head slopingoppositely relative to the angle of the continuous edge of the pluralityof collectively arranged wire members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become more fully apparent upon careful consideration ofthe following Detailed Description of the Invention and the accompanyingDrawings, which may be disproportionate for ease of understanding,wherein like structure and steps are referenced by correspondingnumerals and indicators throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned side elevational view of a poweredfastener driving tool having an aftwardly swept magazine useable fordriving brads arranged in an obliquely collated strip of brads accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of an obliquely collated strip ofbrads useable in an aftwardly swept magazine of a fastener driving toolaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3a is a side elevational view of an individual brad of theobliquely collated strip of brads of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3b is an end view taken along lines 3b--3b of FIG. 3a.

FIG. 3c is an opposite end view taken along lines 3c--3c of FIG. 3a.

FIG. 3d is a side elevational view of an alternative point configurationof an individual brad of the obliquely collated strip of brads of FIG.1.

FIG. 3e is an end view taken along lines 3e--3e of FIG. 3d.

FIG. 3f is an opposite end view taken along lines 3f--3f of FIG. 3d.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic manufacturing flow diagram illustrating exemplaryprocesses for making an obliquely collated strips of brads according tothe present invention.

FIG. 6a is a perspective view of an exemplary arrangement formanufacturing an obliquely collated strip of brads according toprocesses of the present invention.

FIG. 6b is a partial sectional view taken along lines 6b--6b of FIG. 6ashowing a portion of a stepped heading die and a partially formedobliquely collated strip of brads.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a powered fastener driving tool 10useable for driving brads arranged in an obliquely collated strip ofbrads. The fastener driving tool 10 useable for this purpose has adriver blade 22 extendable along its longitudinal axis through a channel24 of a nose-piece 20 and into engagement with an endmost fastener, orbrad, 30 disposed within the channel so as 24 to separate the endmostbrad 30 from the obliquely collated strip of brads 100 and discharge thebrad 30 from an aperture 26 of the nose-piece 20 into a target materialor workpiece, like so as, for example, wood, not shown in the drawing.The exemplary fastener driving tool 10 of FIG. 1 is of the typedisclosed more fully in co-pending U.S. Application No.₋₋₋₋₋₋ filed on₋₋₋₋₋₋, entitled "Pneumatic Trim Nailer" commonly assigned herewith andincorporated herein by reference, but the objects, features, aspects andadvantages of the present invention are applicable to any obliquelycollated strips of fasteners useable in fastener driving tools having anaftwardly swept magazine.

The fastener driving tool 10 includes a handle 40 extendingsubstantially radially from the longitudinal axis of the driver blade22. In the exemplary embodiment, the handle 40 is disposed along asubstantially perpendicular radial relative to the axis of the driverblade 22, but the handle 40 may be disposed at some angle relative tothe axis of the driver blade 22. The fastener driving tool 10 alsoincludes a magazine 50 disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinalaxis of the driver blade 22 for receiving and feeding individual brads30 of the collated strip of brads 100 to the channel 24 of thenose-piece 20. FIG. 1 shows the magazine 50 extending aftwardly from thenose-piece 20 toward and below the handle 40, wherein the handle 40 andthe magazine 50 are disposed on substantially the same side of thedriver blade 22, as discussed further below.

FIG. 2 shows an obliquely collated strip of brads 100 useable in afastener driving tool having an angled magazine, and FIGS. 3a-3cillustrate various views of a single brad 30 of the obliquely collatedstrip of brads of FIG. 2. More particularly, each brad 30 includes ashank 60 with a longitudinal axis having a head 70 at a first end and apoint 80 at a second opposite end. FIG. 4 shows the shank 60 of eachbrad 30 having a race-track shaped cross-section, but the shank 60 mayalternatively have other cross-sectional shapes including square,rectangular, polygonal, round, oval and Turk's-head shapes. Thusaccording to the exemplary race-track configuration of FIG. 4, the shank60 has opposite first and second sides 62 and 63, which are parallelsurfaces, and the shank 60 also includes first and second curved ends 64and 65 between and connecting the opposite sides 62 and 63.

The point 80 of the brad 30 has a tip 90 defined by a first facet 92, asecond facet 93, and a third surface 94, wherein at least one or both ofthe first and second facets 92 and 93 are angled from correspondingsubstantially opposite first and second sides 62 and 63 of the shank 60so as to form an edge 96 which is disposed at an angle Φ relative to thelongitudinal axis of the shank 60. The third surface 94 is formed by athird side of the shank 60, wherein the third side of the shank is oneof the first or second curved ends 64 or 65 of the shank 60. The facets92, 93 and surface 94 forming the tip 90 may have planar or curvedsurfaces, and the point 80 is asymmetric with respect to thelongitudinal centerline of the shank 60 when viewed from either of thesides 62 and 63.

In the exemplary embodiment, the first curved end 64 of the shank is thethird side of the shank 60, wherein the third surface 94 is formed bythe first curved end 64. FIGS. 3a-3c show the first and second facets 92and 93 of the tip 90 being substantially planar, and the third surface94 of the tip curved. In other embodiments, however, the third surface94 may also be planar, for example where the shank 60 has a square orrectangular cross-sectional shape. FIGS. 3a-3c also show the first andsecond facets 92 and 93 converging from the corresponding first andsecond opposite sides 62 and 63 of the shank 60 so as to form the edge96 substantially symmetrically between the first and second oppositesides 62 and 63.

In alternative embodiments, however, the edge 96 is not necessarilysymmetrically disposed between the first and second sides 62 and 63. Oneof the first and second facets 92 or 93 may for example correspond withone of the first or second sides 62 or 63 of the shank 60 as discussedabove. FIGS. 3d-3f show yet another alternative embodiment, wherein thebrad point 80 includes a substantially planar surface 91 disposed at anacute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the shank 60. Thesubstantially planar surface 91 is bounded by substantially oppositesides 62 and 63 and by opposite ends 64 and 65, which in the exemplaryembodiment have curved surfaces thereby forming a race-track shapedcross-section as discussed above. The point 80 has a tip 90 defined bythe substantially planar surface 91 disposed at an acute angle relativeto the longitudinal axis of the shank 60, the substantially oppositefirst and second sides 62 and 63 of the shank 60, and by one of thefirst and second ends of the shank, which is end 64 in FIG. 3d. The headof the brads in the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 3d-3f is not shownbut corresponds with the head 70 shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 3a-3c,respectively, discussed further below.

As viewed from either side 62 or 63, the angle Φ between the edge 96 inthe FIGS. 3a-3c, and the substantially planar surface 91 in FIGS. 3d-3f,and the longitudinal axis of the shank 60 is an acute angle betweenapproximately 60 degrees and approximately 80 degrees, and in onepreferred embodiment the angle Φ is approximately 70 degrees. The angleΦ corresponds substantially to the relative angle between the magazine50 and the channel 24 of the nose-piece 30 of the associated tool, asdiscussed above.

The head 70 of the brad 30 has a top surface 71 which is disposed at anangle relative to the longitudinal axis of the shank 60 when viewed fromthe first or second side 62 and 63 of the shank 60, wherein the angle ofthe top surface 71 slopes oppositely relative to the angle of the edge96 or the substantially planar surface 91, as shown best in FIGS. 2 and3a. The magnitude of the angle of the top surface 71 however is notnecessarily the same as the magnitude of the angle of the edge 96 orsurface 91, although they may be equivalent. FIGS. 3b and 3c show thehead 70 of the shank 60 also having first and second opposite sideportions 72 and 73 extending outwardly beyond the first and second sidesurfaces 62 and 63 of the shank.

FIG. 2 shows a plurality of substantially identically configured brads30 arranged collectively in parallel so as to form the obliquelycollated strip of brads 100. In one preferred embodiment, the obliquelycollated strip of brads 100 is composed of 50 brads. The substantiallyopposite first and second sides 62 and 63 of each brad 30 are disposedin corresponding first and second substantially parallel planes of theobliquely collated strip of brads 100. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3a-3c,the edge 96 of each brad 30 forms a substantially continuous edge 110 ofthe obliquely collated strip of brads 100 shown in FIG. 2. In thealternative embodiment of FIGS. 3d-3f, the substantially planar surface91 of each brad 30 similarly forms a substantially continuous edge of anobliquely collated strip of brads, which is not shown but is similar tothe configuration of FIG. 2. The angle between the substantiallycontinuous edge 110 and the longitudinal axes of the brads 30 is thusbetween approximately 60 degrees and approximately 80 degrees, and inone preferred embodiment the angle is approximately 70 degrees, asdiscussed above.

In the exemplary embodiment, the first and second facets 92 and 93 ofeach brad 30 of the obliquely collated strip of brads 100 converge fromthe corresponding substantially opposite first and second sides 62 and63 of the shank 60 so as to form the substantially continuous edge 110substantially symmetrically between the first and second sides 62 and 63of the plurality of collectively arranged brads 30 forming the obliquelycollated strip of brads 100. The substantially continuous edge 110 may,however, be configured according to the alternative configurations ofthe edges 96 of individual brads 30 or according to the of alternativeconfiguration shown in FIGS. 3d-3f as suggested above.

FIG. 2 also shows the head 70 of each brad 30 of the obliquely collatedstrip of brads 100 arranged step-wise relative to the head 70 of eachadjacent brad 30, wherein the step-wise arrangement of heads 70 forms astepped edge 120 substantially parallel to the substantially continuousedge 110 of the obliquely collated strip of brads 100. Also, the head 70of each brad 30 of the collated strip of brads 100 has a top disposed 71at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the shank 60, whereinthe angle of the top surface 71 of the head 70 slopes oppositelyrelative to the angle of the substantially continuous edge 110 of theobliquely collated strip of brads 100.

FIG. 5 is a manufacturing flow diagram 200 illustrating schematicallythe manufacture of the obliquely collated strip of brads 100 accordingto an exemplary process of the invention. In a first step 210, aplurality of wire members 250 are collectively arranged in parallel asshown in FIG. 6a. In a preferred arrangement, fifty wire members 250 arecollectively arranged in parallel and then cut to form obliquelycollated strips of brads 100 as discussed further below. Thecollectively arranged plurality of wire members 250 are cohered togetherby an adhesive material, such as, for example, nitrocellulose. Inaccordance with one method of manufacture, the wire members 250 aresubject to a wire flattening operation, usually by a rolling member, toprovide the race-track shaped cross-section shown in FIG. 4. The wireflattening operation is generally performed before the coherence of thewire members with the adhesive material, or while the applied adhesivematerial is still plastic, and before the adhesive material hardens.

FIG. 5 further shows a cutting operation 220, and FIG. 6a shows amanufacturing arrangement for performing the cutting operation 220 onthe plurality of collectively arranged wire members 250 so as to form afirst substantially continuous edge 252 at an acute angle relative tothe longitudinal axes of the plurality of collectively arranged wiremembers 250. FIG. 6a shows the cutting operation 220 performed bycooperating cutting dies 260 and 270 movable substantially transverselyrelative to a direction of travel T of the plurality of collectivelyarranged wire members 250. The cutting dies 260 and 270 are arranged atan angle relative to the direction of travel T of the plurality ofcollectively arranged wire members 250 so as to form the firstsubstantially continuous edge 252 at the acute angle Φ, as discussedabove.

A second substantially continuous edge, not shown, is formed on an endportion of a section of the plurality collectively arranged wire members250 opposite the first substantially continuous edge 252, wherein thesection of the plurality collectively arranged wire members 250ultimately forms an obliquely collated strip of brads. The secondsubstantially continuous edge of the plurality of collectively arrangedwire members 250 is also formable by the cooperating cutting dies 260and 270 of FIG. 6a in a cutting operation, which occurs after theplurality of collectively arranged wire members 250 have been movedtoward the heading die 280 in the direction T subsequent to a previouscutting operation forming the first edge 252. The second substantiallycontinuous edge is formed identically and parallel to the firstsubstantially continuous edge 252, and corresponds to the substantiallycontinuous edge 110 of the obliquely collated strip of brads 100 shownin FIG. 2.

FIG. 6a also shows converging cutting surfaces 262 and 264 of thecutting die 260 and converging cutting surfaces 272 and 274 of thecutting die 270 forming corresponding continuous cutting edges 265 and275, respectively. The cutting edges 265 and 275 of the cutting dies 260and 270 form the first and second facets 92 and 93 of the substantiallycontinuous edge 110 on the resulting obliquely collated strip of brads100, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3a-3c. The continuous cutting edges 265 and275 of the cutting dies 260 and 270 are considerably less costly tofabricate than prior art stepped cutting dies. Also, the continuouscutting edges 265 and 275 of the cutting dies 260 and 270 are subject toconsiderably less degradation by the wire members during the cuttingoperations in comparison to prior art stepped cutting dies.

The alternative point configuration of FIGS. 3d-3f may be formed bycutting dies 260 and 270 having corresponding substantiallycomplementary stepped surfaces 267 and 277, which shear the wire members250. The alternative substantially complementary stepped surfaces 267and 277 of the cutting die 260 and 270 are shown in phantom lines inFIG. 6a. The alternate cutting die configurations also have continuouscutting edges which are less costly to fabricate and are subject to lessdegradation in comparison to prior art stepped cutting dies.

Another step illustrated by the flow diagram of FIG. 5 is a headingoperation 240 performed on one of the substantially continuous edges ofthe plurality of collectively arranged wire members 250 so as to form ahead on each of the plurality of collectively arranged wire members 250.FIG. 6a shows the heading operation 240 performed by a heading die 280movable in a direction H relative to the plurality of collectivelyarranged wire members 250, which are generally supported by means knownin the art during the heading operation 240. In one preferred mode ofpracticing the invention, the cutting operation 220 occurssimultaneously with the heading operation 240, although the cuttingoperation 220 may alternatively occur either before or after the headingoperation 240, so long as means are provided for supporting theplurality of collectively arranged wire members 250 during the headingoperation 240.

FIG. 6b is a partial sectional view of the heading die 280 of FIG. 6ashowing the heading die 280 having a plurality of flat surfaced dies 282arranged adjacently in a stepped configuration at an angle Φcorresponding to the angle of the first substantially continuous edge252. Each flat surfaced die 282 is disposed transverse to thelongitudinal axis of the plurality of collectively arranged wire members250, and each flat surfaced die 282 corresponds to one of the pluralityof collectively arranged wire members 250. FIG. 6b also shows a portionof the first substantially continuous edge 252 of the plurality ofcollectively arranged wire members 250 after the cutting operation 220but before the heading operation 240. The angle of the stepped headingdie 280 is parallel to the angle of the first substantially continuousedge 252 of the plurality of collectively arranged wire members 250.

In operation, the heading die 280, and more particularly the pluralityof flat surfaced dies 282 thereof apply an axial compressive force to acorresponding wire member of the plurality of collectively arranged wiremembers 250 along the first substantially continuous edge 252 thereof.Notably, during the heading operation 240, each flat surfaced die 282unexpectedly forms a head 70 on the corresponding wire member having atop surface 71 at an angle sloping oppositely relative to the angle ofthe first substantially continuous edge 252 before the headingoperation. According to this aspect of the invention, the firstsubstantially continuous edge 252 of the plurality of collectivelyarranged wire members 250 is formed into the stepped head edge 120 ofthe obliquely collated strip of brads 100, and the second substantiallycontinuous edge of the plurality of collectively arranged wire member250 corresponds to the substantially continuous edge 110 of theobliquely collated strip of brads 100, wherein the head 70 of each brad30 slopes oppositely relative to the corresponding edge 96 as shown inFIG. 2.

In an alternative method of making the obliquely collated strip of brads100, the top surface 71 of each head 70 is formed substantially 90degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the shank 60. For thispurpose, the plurality of flat surfaced dies 282 of the heading die 280of FIG. 6b are each arranged at an angle, which is more parallel to thefirst substantially continuous edge 252 than is shown in FIG. 6b.According to this method, the angle between the flat surfaced dies 282and the longitudinal axes of the plurality of wire members 250 is, forexample, approximately 85 degrees, as measured counter-clockwise fromthe flat surfaced die 282 to the shank axis, wherein the precise anglemay be determined without undue experimentation.

FIG. 1. shows the obliquely collated strip of brads 100 disposed in anangled magazine 50 of the powered fastener driving tool 10, wherein themagazine 50 sequentially feeds individual brads 30 of the obliquelycollated strip of brads 100 into the channel 24 of the nose-piece 20,wherefrom the brads 30 are subsequently discharged by the driver blade22. The handle 40 and the magazine 50 are disposed on substantially thesame side of the driver blade 22 as shown in FIG. 1.

As discussed above and shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each brad 30 of theobliquely collated strip of brads 100 has a shank with a longitudinalaxis, the shank having on one end a head 70 and on an opposite end apoint 80 with a tip 90. The obliquely collated strip of brads 100 isdisposed in the magazine 50 so that as the individual brads 30 are fedinto the channel 24 of the nose-piece 20, the head 70 of the brad 30 isdisposed nearest the driver blade 22 and the point 80 of the brad 30 isdisposed nearest the aperture 26 of the nose-piece 20. FIG. 1 shows theangle of the substantially continuous edge 110 of the obliquely collatedstrip of brads 100 disposed in the magazine 50 relative to thelongitudinal axes of the brads 30 being substantially the same as theangle of the magazine 50 relative to the axis of the driver blade 22,which is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the brads 30.

In operation, the end 64 of the shank 60 defining the tip 90 of eachbrad 30 is fed first into the channel 24 of the nose-piece 20 by themagazine 50, wherein the end 64 faces away from the direction in whichthe handle 40 extends. According to this aspect of the invention, thetip 90 of each brad 30 disposed in the channel 22 is located along theend 64 of the brad 30, which is the endmost portion of the brad 30farthest away from the entrance to the magazine 50.

The point 90 on the brad 30 improves the penetration performance of thebrad 30 into the workpiece, notably without any deflection of the brad30 therefrom, the phenomenon known as skating discussed above, andwithout any observable adverse effect on brad penetration caused by thewood grain, which may cause shining. Table I below, entitled PenetrationPerformance Comparison, summarizes test results obtained by driving 11/2 inch angled chisel point brads of the present invention and 1 1/2inch prior art non-angled chisel point brads into an oak wood abstractwith a pneumatic fastener driving tool operated at three different airsupply pressures.

                  TABLE I    ______________________________________    PENETRATION PERFORMANCE COMPARISON    TEST   NO. TESTS  PRIOR ART    INVENTION    (psi)  PERFORMED  (Ave. Drive Depth)                                   (Ave. Drive Depth)    ______________________________________    70 psi 20         0.871 inches 0.893 inches    85 psi 25         1.183 inches 1.210 inches    90 psi 18         1.318 inches 1.339 inches    ______________________________________

The results of Table 1 show that the novel angled chisel point brads 30of the present invention tend to penetrate deeper into the targetmaterial, or workpiece, in comparison to prior art non-angled chiselpoint brads. Table II below, entitled Shine Comparison, summarizes testresults obtained by driving 134 2.5 inch novel angled chisel point bradsof the present invention and 134 2.5 inch prior art non-angled chiselpoint brads into various wood grains with a pneumatic fastener drivingtool.

                  TABLE II    ______________________________________    SHINE COMPARISON               TOTAL TESTED                         TOTAL SHINED    ______________________________________    PRIOR ART    134         48    INVENTION    134         28    ______________________________________

The results of Table II indicate that the angled chisel point brads ofthe present invention are not more likely to shine than prior artnon-angled chisel point brads, and in fact the results of Table IIsuggests that the novel angled chisel point brads of the presentinvention are less likely to shine than prior art non-angled chiselpoint brads, which suggests further that the novel angled chisel pointbrads of the present invention are less likely to be influenced by woodgrain.

According to another aspect of the invention shown in FIG. 1, each brad30 is disposed in the channel 24 of the nose-piece 20 so that the angleof the head 70 slopes oppositely relative to the angle of the magazine50. The sloping angle of the brad head 70 tends to improve contactbetween a tip portion 23 of the driver blade 22 and the head 70 as thefastener driving tool recoils while driving the brad 30 into theworkpiece. More particularly, FIG. 1 shows the fastener driving tool 10recoiling in a direction R, and pivoting usually about the tooloperator's wrist and elbow, which are extending from the operator's handgripping the handle 40. The angled head 70 of the brad 30 slopes in adirection that tends to keep the tip 23 of the driver blade 22 in withthe brad head 70 as the fastener driving tool 10 recoils, therebycompensating somewhat for recoil of the tool 10. As a result, thetendency of the driver blade 22 to slip off the brad head 70 may bereduced, which correspondingly reduces the possibility that theworkpiece will be damaged by a misguided driver blade tip 23. Inaddition to the improved penetration performance resulting from thenovel angled point 80, any improved contact between the driver blade 22and the brad 30 also very likely contributes to the improved penetrationperformance of the brad 30 into the workpiece.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables anyoneskilled in the art to make and use what is at present considered to bethe best mode of the invention, it will be appreciated and understood byanyone skilled in the art the existence of variations, combinations,modifications and equivalents within the spirit and scope of thespecific exemplary embodiments disclosed herein. The present inventiontherefore is to be limited not by the specific exemplary embodimentsdisclosed herein but by all embodiments within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A collated strip of brads useable in an angledmagazine of a fastener driving tool, each brad having a shank with alongitudinal axis, the shank having a head on a first end and a point ona second opposite end, comprising:a plurality of brads arrangedcollectively in parallel and obliquely so as to form a collated strip ofoblique brads; and said point of each brad of said collated strip ofbrads having a tip defined by converging first, second, and thirdsurfaces, wherein at least one of said first and second surfaces isangled from a corresponding one of substantially opposite first andsecond sides of said shank of each brad so as to form an edge which isdisposed at an acute angle relative to said longitudinal axis of saidshank such that said edge of each brad of said collated strip of bradsforms a substantially continuous edge of said collated strip of brads,and said tip of said point of each one of said brads is asymmetricallyoffset with respect to said longitudinal axis of its corresponding brad.2. The collated strip of brads of claim 1, wherein:said substantiallyopposite first and second sides of said shank of each brad of saidcollated strip of brads are disposed within corresponding first andsecond substantially parallel planes.
 3. The collated strip of brads asset forth in claim 1, wherein:said first, second, and third surfaces ofeach one of said brads respectively comprise first and second facets anda third side of said shank of said brad.
 4. The collated strip of bradsof claim 3, wherein:said first and second facets of each brad of saidcollated strip of brads both converge from said correspondingsubstantially opposite first and second sides of said shank so as toform said edge substantially symmetrically between said first and secondsides of said shank.
 5. The collated strip of brads of claim 3,wherein:said third surface of each one of said brads defined by saidthird side of said shank of said brad and defining said tip of each bradof said collated strip of brads is formed by an end of said shank. 6.The collated strip of brads of claim 5, wherein the shank of each bradof the collated strip of brads has having substantially opposite curvedfirst and second ends, whereby the shank has a substantially race-trackshaped cross-section.
 7. The collated strip of brads of claim 1,wherein:said head of each brad of said collated strip of brads isarranged step-wise relative to the head of an adjacent brad of saidcollated strip of brads whereby said step-wise arrangement of said headsof said brads forms a stepped edge substantially parallel to saidsubstantially continuous edge of said collated strip of brads.
 8. Thecollated strip of brads of claim 7, wherein the angle of the continuousedge of the collated strip of brads is approximately 70 degrees relativeto the longitudinal axis of the shank of each brad.
 9. The collatedstrip of brads of claim 7, wherein:said head of each brad of saidcollated strip of brads has a top surface which is disposed at an anglerelative to the longitudinal axis of the shank such that each head isdisposed at an angle which slopes opposite to said angle of saidsubstantially continuous edge of said collated strip of brads.
 10. Acollated strip of brads useable in an angled magazine of a fastenerdriving tool, each brad having a shank with a longitudinal axis, theshank having a head on a first ends, a point on a second opposite end,and substantially opposite first and second sides and substantiallyopposite first and second ends, comprising:a plurality of brads arrangedcollectively in parallel and obliquely so as to form a collated strip ofoblique brads; and said point of each brad of said collated strip ofbrads has a tip defined by a substantially planar surface disposed at anacute angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said shank, saidsubstantially opposite first and second sides of said shank, and atleast one of said first and second ends of the said shank, saidsubstantially planar surface of each brad of said collated strip ofbrads forms a substantially continuous edge of said collated strip ofbrads, and said tip of said point of each one of said brads isasymmetrically offset with respect to said longitudinal axis of itscorresponding brad.
 11. The collated strip of brads as set forth inclaim 10, wherein:said tip of each brad of said collated strip of bradsis defined by converging first, second, and third surfaces.
 12. Thecollated strip of brads as set forth in claim 11, wherein:said first,second, and third surfaces of each one of said brads respectivelycomprise first and second facets and one of said first and second endsof said shank of said brad.
 13. The collated strip of brads as set forthin claim 12, wherein:said first and second facets of each brad of saidcollated strip of brads both converge from said correspondingsubstantially opposite first and second sides of said shank so as toform said substantially planar surface substantially symmetricallybetween said first and second sides of said shank.
 14. The collatedstrip of brads of claim 10, wherein:said substantially opposite firstand second sides of said shank of each brad of said collated strip ofbrads are disposed within corresponding first and second substantiallyparallel planes.
 15. The collated strip of brads of claim 10, whereinthe shank of each brad of the collated strip of brads has substantiallyopposite curved first and second ends, whereby the shank has asubstantially race-track shaped cross-section.
 16. The collated strip ofbrads of claim 10, wherein the angle of the continuous edge of thecollated strip of brads is approximately 70 degrees relative to thelongitudinal axis of the shank of each brad.
 17. The collated strip ofbrads of claim 10, wherein:said head of each brad of said collated stripof brads is arranged step-wise relative to the head of an adjacent bradof said collated strip of brads whereby said step-wise arrangement ofsaid heads of said brads forms a stepped edge substantially parallel tosaid substantially continuous edge of said collated strip of brads. 18.The collated strip of brads of claim 17, wherein:said head of each bradof said collated strip of brads has a top surface which is disposed atan angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said shank such that eachhead is disposed at an angle which slopes opposite to said angle of saidsubstantially continuous edge of said collated strip of brads.